Rugby Rebel by Gerard Siggins Read Free Book Online

me,’ the young man said, ‘I didn’t hear you coming. I recognise you from somewhere, don’t I?’
    Eoin shrugged, ‘I don’t know how, my name is Eoin Madden, and this is Alan Handy. Who are you?’
    ‘I’m sorry, of course I should have introduced myself. My name is Kevin, Kevin Barry …’ he replied.
    Eoin and Alan’s eyes widened.
    ‘ The Kevin Barry?’ Eoin interrupted. ‘We went to Kilmainham Jail a few weeks ago… The tour guide toldus all about your execution.’
    ‘Yeah, our teacher even sang a ballad about you on the bus back afterwards,’ said Alan.
    ‘I remember now,’ started Kevin. ‘I’m often up there too seeing some old comrades, and I was in that yard when you guys were being taken around – I remember Alan here acting the maggot – and heard the old teacher mention my name. I didn’t think anyone knew much about me anymore, except for that terrible song I keep hearing …’
    ‘What’s brought you to Castlerock,’ Eoin asked, ‘Was it because you saw us at Kilmainham?’
    ‘I’m not sure. There’s something going on, though. I saw another ghost here last night too. He told me that he only appears here when there’s a problem …’
    ‘That would be Brian,’ said Eoin. ‘He was killed playing rugby at Lansdowne Road.’
    ‘I remember playing at Lansdowne Road. I think I played rugby here once for Belvedere – we hammered you if memory serves me correct.’
    ‘Ha, well that wouldn’t happen anymore!’ Eoin grinned.
    ‘Do Belvo still play?’ asked Kevin.
    ‘Yeah, they do,’ replied Alan. ‘They’re not bad, but even Castlerock would expect to beat them and we’vewon nothing in years.’
    Eoin stared at the new arrival. He was perplexed by the arrival of a third ghost at the school. Why me? he thought.
    ‘Has anyone else been able to see you since you died?’ asked Alan.
    ‘No … I don’t think so,’ replied Kevin. ‘It’s hard to know, because sometimes I see people staring at me, but they never approach me. I was always a bit shy too, and I’m not mad on talking about the whole “being dead” thing.’
    ‘I don’t really understand the ghost thing either,’ said Eoin. ‘You’re the third I’ve met in about two years and no-one else was able to see them. But now Alan can see ghosts if he’s with me.’
    ‘Maybe it’s because there was a crisis when I saw Brian for the first time?’ asked Alan. ‘Maybe Kevin here is going to solve the mystery of the thefts?’
    ‘Hold up there, please,’ said Kevin. ‘I’m no detective, I’m just a long-dead medical student. I’m no good at all at mysteries.’
    ‘All right,’ grinned Eoin, ‘don’t worry about that. I don’t want to even start explaining mobile phones to you!’
    The trio sat chatting about school and rugby for awhile, before Eoin had a brainwave.
    ‘Would you mind if I interviewed you about your life?’ he asked Kevin. ‘We have a big project to do in history class and you would be perfect.’
    ‘So I’m a part of history now?’ sighed Kevin.
    ‘Yes, kids in school are taught about you. Don’t you know that?’
    ‘No, I didn’t. But I suppose that’s nice, really. I just did my bit. It wasn’t much.’
    ‘I really would like to find out more about you. Please?’
    ‘Well, alright then. Bring your ink-pen and jotter down here tomorrow and we can talk.’
    ‘Eh … “ink-pen”? I think you’ve got a lot to learn about modern schools! OK then, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
    Kevin disappeared and Eoin and Alan wandered back to the dorm.
    ‘Smart idea, Eoin,’ Alan said. ‘Sorry I didn’t think of it first.’
    ‘Yeah, well that’s why I’m Young Historian of the Year and you’re not,’ he laughed, turning up the pace and leaving Alan behind as he raced up the staircase.

Chapter 15
    . . . . . . . . .
    T HE Junior Cup team’s first game was against St Osgur’s, and Eoin took his place on the touch-line in Donnybrook. These games always drew a large crowd both